Jillian's Graduation

They all received the ABC books they had worked on all year as well as a "paper plate award." The paper plate awards had three descriptive adjectives on them that started with the same letter as the child's name. Jillian's said "Jubilant, jovial and (a) joy."

Miss Jane B and Miss Jane H

Miss Kim G

Miss Kim Patterson gave the sweetest speech at the "graduation ceremony" for the four-year-olds. She said that even though "we know it isn't a real graduation, it is the end of these children's formal early childhood education and that is bittersweet for us. We are glad they are going to kindergarten and wouldn't have it any other way but we will miss them here." She is such a dear person and has such a way of saying at the beginning of the year just how I am feeling! I remember her describing how we as parents set the tone for our children loving to learn. She said how very much she has loved school ever since her very first year and that her parents grew that sentiment in their home. She also said it is our "divine mission" to educate these souls. Does she sound inspired? She is! I also think she was born to be a parent and a director of a preschool!

Peter and friends

Peter's little class drew to a close and we went to the park for treats for the last day of playschool. I couldn't get all of them to look at the camera simultaneously but here they are. Peter, Mason, Briar, Edward, Mia and Clara (not pictured). What a fun and energetic bunch!

Go Piranhas!

This was Jillian at the beginning of the swimteam season. She was very nervous to swim on her back. As you can see, half of her body would be sticking out of the water when one of the "baby coaches" was helping her. The kids were great with her though and she has gotten a lot better. The contrast from last year's lessons to this year's is huge. These coaches are patient and know just how to encourage the kids to get them to participate. With Jillian it was just a waiting game. She would say "I"m not ready yet" so they would move on to the next person. Eventually she was the last child on the wall and she couldn't say "I'll go next time" anymore.

Here she is in her Hello Kitty suit. So adorable!

Berry picking with preschool friends

Kristi being sweet and seesawing with Peter. He was getting discouraged because he kept asking the bigger kids to ride with him and they would say "yes" but then get offered a spot on the wooden seesaws. This did the trick!

Dads are fun!

I left home one saturday for something, I can't remember what now, but when I came home Kevin was letting the kids nap on their bookshelf. The second picture is Peter fast asleep down below. The top is Jillian in action jumping/falling down after she woke up. They crack me up.

One of the many times Peter fell asleep on our way to pick Jillian up from preschool. This was one of her last days at UUMP. Next year it will be Peter's turn to get picked up and dropped off. He's going to be in Miss Mandy's and Miss Stephanie's class. This picture is such a paradox to me because he's looking so grown up but he's all stuffed into that little boy carseat and all tuckered out.

Lucy was there too!

life revolves in constant motion around this little girl. for the most part she seems to love it.

Birthday adventures in D.C.

For my birthday we headed to D.C. to do some of the things we don't usually because they aren't too kid-friendly. We went to Harrisonburg to see Brittany and her family but forgot to get a photo. We went on a fun hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains while we were there and saw a skunk right on the trail. The next day we went to the Newseum, which we recommend to anyone. It was fascinating. Thanks for babysitting Mom!

Lucy was rewarded for being the easy child and tagged along.

This and the sports photography section were my favorites. Some very moving photos! I would have loved to buy the coffee table book but not all the photos would be appropriate for all audiences. Not that they're R-rated but there are several wartime photos that would be difficult to explain to a child.

She's totally too big for this basket but I just wanted to try.

Our last day there we went up the Washington Monument for my very first time. It was not crowded at all so I guess it's best to go when it's chilly.

About George Washington. Wouldn't that be nice to feel like this about a political candidate today?

Winding down

Lucy patiently sitting by in the stroller as I was running on the treadmill

Watching a show on Mom's phone

Festivities are always fun and so is getting back to the slow pace of life with little ones. We can determine where we wonder and how slowly. It's a good time of life. One day we went on a walk and Lucy and Peter feel asleep in the wagon. It was chilly but they were all bundled and weren't bothered when it started to snow lightly on them.

December...It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Isn't it funny how whatever time of year you are in, you think is the "right" time? Like right now I'm blogging in May about Christmas festivities and I'm just not as excited about Christmas as I was then. I'm enthused about springtime, blossoms, my garden growing. And before I'm ready to be excited about Christmas again I need to have plenty of swimming, sunny days, trips to get ice cream, back-to-school jitters, and so it goes.

Our Christmas was fabulous though. We especially loved having my sister back in the country! She makes my top 5 list of ALL TIME people I want to be like.

Jillian's drawing of the 1st Christmas
A fun toy exhibit at the Museum of Life and Science

Lucy Lou meets Santa for the first time. What a bore!

Poor Jillian's eye. She had a severe case of pink eye. We ended going to the ED. Then Lucy got it, and then Katie and Hadley got it. Let's hope it stays far away from us next Christmas! But let's not forget the most important part of this photo...Christmas cookies!

Feeling much better!

We have a video on the OLD camcorder of me wearing an identical outfit when I was four-years-old being the Christmas angel at the Hamilton's house.

Grandma and Grandpa Z came to my parents' house for Christmas this year! They were actually extremely sick too but we were so glad to have them.

I love these pictures of the kids all gathered around the Christ-child.

Christmas morning reading of the notes from Santa

Dad's French/African ensemble from Kate and Mom

I think it's safe to say Peter loves Woody.

Dad took the kids for a walk in the freezing cold while the girls were at the outlets.

These are just too fun! Kevin vs. Hadley in the Just Dance 2 Tournie.

That's the guy I love!

At a really cool park for kids with special needs in D.C. called Clemenjontri, named after the founder's five children.

One of the cool motion/slider things. They had some really innovative play structures that we all enjoyed. It was a really cold day-hopefully we'll go back again when it's warmer.

We saw these people (very little people) doing a trick where they looked like an airplane flying. It was harder than it looked. Kevin and Hadley eventually got it down though.

Okay, maybe I am excited for Christmas! These guys are just too fun!